Key container



Oct, 23, 1945. 5 EVANS 2,387,319

KEY CONTAINER Filed Feb. 15, 1944 1N VEN TOR. 02am 4. fry/vs BY i Patented Oct. 23, 1945 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE KEY CONTAINER Glenn E. Evans, Denver, 0010. Application February 15, 1M4, Serial No. 522,499

3 Claims. (01. 70-456) This invention relates to a key container and has for its principal object the provision of a neat and emcient device of this character which will hold a plurality of keys in a concealed position and allow any desired key to be selected from the container through the medium of key selection buttons.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designedjor simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description. i

In the followin detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved key container as it would appear with one key released therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a cross section, taken on the line 22, Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar cross section, taken on the line 3-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one extremity of the container with one side plate removed on the line 4-4, Fig. 2, illustrating the interior mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section illustrating an alternate form of the invention.

The improved container consists of a rigid key case formed from a central key block It on each side of which a side plate H is secured in any desired manner. The key block In and the side plates ll may, if desired, be formed as an integral unit. The key block itself forms a central partition in the case.

On each side of the key block are crosses separating ridges I2 which hold the side plates in spaced'relation and divide the case into eight individual key pockets I3. A hollow key pivot bolt I 4 extends through each pair of key pockets and is held therein by means of a central screw II which is threaded into the hollow key bolt M.

The keys, illustrated at l6, are mounted on these key bolts I I, there being two keys on each bolt. The keys when not in use swing into the pockets l3 and when in use project longitudinal- 1y from the extremities of the case.

The keys are held'in place in their pockets by means of resilient locking springs l1, each looking spring serving two pockets. Each of the locking springs extends through a suitable receiving notch across one of the spacing members I2 and is locked thereon by means of a suitable indentation l8 extending into the material of the member. Each extremity of each locking spring is formed with a projecting, key-engaging tooth which snaps into the usual grooves of the key. as shown in Fig.3, to hold the key in place. The extremities of the springs ride in suitable receiving openings 20 in the key block it.

Opposite each of the key pockets It a push button 2| is secured to the locking spring ll. These push buttons project beyond the side plates through suitable openings therein. Pressure upon any one of the buttons forces that extremity of its locking spring inwardly to cause the tooth H! to disengage its key and allow it to drop by gravity from the case as shown in Fig. 1. For convenience, it is preferred to form numbers 22 on the case opposite each push button 2| to enable the user to determine what button to use for the desired key.

In Fig. 5, an alternate arrangement of the locking spring is illustrated. In this form of the key block,-side plates, and pivot screws are similar to the previous form. This form, however, employs U-shaped locking springs 22 which pass through the openings 20 of the key block In and terminate in suitable push buttons 23. This form also employs key engaging bends or teeth 26 on the springs which are disengaged from the keys by means of the push buttons 23.

To obtain any desired key, the user simply turns the key container so that the desired key will be on the lower side therof. He then presses the proper push button 21 or 23 to release the desired key and allow it to swing from the container. The side plates may be formed with a raised peripheral head to protect the heads of the screws l4 and I5 and the push buttons. The case may be formed of any desired material but is particularly adaptable to any of the modern plastics.

While a specific form of the improvement has .been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A key container comprising: a flat central partition member; two side plates; :a spacing member separating each side plate from said central partition member, said spacing members extending longitudinally and transversely of said partition member along the medial lines thereof to divide the container into eight key pockets; four flat spring members each terminating in two of said pockets to retain keys therein; a push button secured to each spring member adjacent each extremity thereof, said push buttons extending through openings in said side plates to the exterior thereof; and means for pivoting a key in each of said pockets.

2. A key container comprising: a flat central partition member; two side plates; a spacing member separating each side plate from saidt versely across the longitudinal portion of said central partition member, said spacing members 1 extending longitudinally and transversely of said partition member along the medial lines thereof to divide the container into eight key pockets; four fiat spring members each terminating in two of said pockets to retain keys therein; a push button secured to each spring member adjacent each extremity thereof, said push buttons extending through openings in said side plates to the exterior thereof; means for pivoting a key in each of said pockets; and projecting means spacing member and terminating in two of said pockets to retain keys therein; a push button secured to each spring member adjacent each extremity thereof, said push buttons extending through openings in said side plates to the exterior thereof; means for pivoting a, key in each of said pockets; and means for clamping said spring members between said partition member and said side plates to hold the spring members in placein said container. 7

' GLENN E. EVANS. 

